RAPAPORT...
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Bree Richey
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In an effort to help upcoming designers grow their
businesses, Cindy Edelstein, founder of Jeweler’s Resource Bureau, created the
Future of Design Contest to find the designer with the best business plan and
then provide that person with a package of resources that would take his or her
business to the next level. Launched in the fall of 2011, the contest finale
took place during the MJSA show. Designers were asked to submit a detailed
business plan that was then reviewed by five judges: Andrea Hill, chief
executive officer (CEO), StrategyWerx, a business consultancy; Kate Peterson,
president, Performance Concepts, dedicated to developing small businesses;
Mendel Rotenberg, Fusion Jewelry; Jim DeMattei, ViewPoint showroom and
Edelstein.
The entrants were narrowed down to six semifinalists, each
of whom was awarded a mentoring session with a member of the Future of Design
Dream Team: Robert Lee Morris, Erica Courtney, Todd Reed, Gurhan, Lisa Jenks
and Penny Preville. The semifinalists were interviewed via a conference call by
the judges, who then selected three finalists. At the MJSA show, those chosen
three — Jennifer Dawes, Elizabeth Garvin and Bree Richey — each made a
ten-minute presentation about their businesses to the judges and the audience,
using a reality television show format. After the presentation, judges and
audience members asked questions of the designers regarding their business
plans. Following the presentation and question-and-answer session, the judges
left to confer about what they had heard and to select the winner.
The winning designer was Bree Richey, who edged out her
competition due to her finely honed vision for the future of her company.
Richey has a sterling silver collection informed by her love of Art Deco and
modern architectural design. Her designs pull from the lines of contemporary
furniture, the fluid patterns of fabrics and the vibrant colors of gemstones.
Born into an artistic family — Bree’s father is the award-winning designer
William Richey — she discovered her own talent at a young age by exploring
sculpture and drawing. She studied at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts and
San Francisco’s Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, later apprenticing with jewelry
designers Conni Mainne and Jayne Redman. Bree founded her eponymous jewelry
design studio eight years ago and today sells to retailers and museum stores
around the country.
VISION AWARDS 2012
The MJSA Vision Awards recognize design skill, technical
expertise and outstanding talent in the field of jewelry design. This year’s
competition added two new categories, Design Excellence and Visionary Technical
Solution, to the existing Distinction Categories of Gold, Laser, Palladium,
Platinum and Custom Design. In addition to professional jewelry designers, the
contest also allows students enrolled in jewelry-making and design programs to
compete for a Future of the Industry award. Ariel Alexandrou, University of
Kansas, won first place in the student competition and there was a tie for
second place, with honors going to Youngjoo Yoo, University of Iowa, and
Bongsang Cho, Savannah College of Art & Design. Judges for the Vision
Awards were Michael Coan, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT); Cindy
Edelstein, Jeweler’s Resource Bureau; Sarah Graham, Sarah Graham Metalsmithing;
Todd Reed, Todd Reed Inc.; Marlene Richey, consultant and Tina Snyder, MJSA.
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
First Place (left)
Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry,
Laguna Beach, California.
South Sea pearl, black and white diamond
and 14-karat gold ring.
Second Place (right)
Gregoré Morin, Gregoré Joailliers,
Santa Barbara, California.
Chrysoprase, Mexican fire opal, white and black diamond and platinum earrings.
LASER DISTINCTION
First Place
Julie Buckareff, JJ Buckar,
Toronto, Canada.
White and pink diamond, rock crystal, Peruvian opal,
18-karat rose gold and palladium brooch.
VISIONARY TECHNICAL SOLUTION
First Place (right)
Edward Mirell, Edward Mirell,
Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Black titanium and 14-karat gold ring.
Second Place (left)
Julie Buckareff, JJ Buckar,
Toronto, Canada.
Blue zircon, diamond and platinum ring.
(This ring also won Second Place in Laser Distinction.)
Gold Distinction
First Place
Julie Lynn Romanenko,
Just Jules LLC, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Diamond slice, diamond and 14-karat
gold cuff.
Second Place
Liaung-Chung Yen, Henrietta, New York.
Brown and white diamond, pearl, steel and
18-karat gold pendant/brooch.
Palladium Distinction
First Place
Brian Sholdt, Sholdt,
Seattle, Washington.
Diamond and palladium ring.
Second Place
Susan Drake, Spectrum Art & Jewelry, Wilmington, North
Carolina.
Mint green tourmaline, pink spinel, diamond and
palladium ring.
Platinum Distinction
First Place
Brian Sholdt, Sholdt,
Seattle, Washington.
Diamond and platinum ring.
Second Place
Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design, Long Beach,
California.
Black onyx, emerald, yellow and white diamond and platinum brooch.
Custom Design Distinction
First Place
Mark Schneider, Mark Schneider Design,
Long Beach, California.
Black and white diamond, acrylic, magnet and
14-karat gold ring.
Second Place
Cynthia Renée, Cynthia Renée Inc.,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Spessartite garnet, yellow diamond, yellow sapphire, red
spinel, white diamond, blue sapphire, 18-karat yellow gold, 14-karat rose gold
and platinum ring.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - April 2012. To subscribe click here.